Nigeria Country Profile - West Africa Image: Jeff Attaway A virtual guide to Nigeria, a country on the coast of West Africa, bordered by the Bight of Benin and the Gulf of Guinea in south. Nigeria is bordered by Benin , Cameroon , Chad , and Niger , it shares maritime borders with Equatorial Guinea , Ghana , and São Tomé and Príncipe . With an area of 923,768 km² the country is almost four times the size of the UK or slightly more than twice the size of the U.S. state California . Nigeria's main rivers are the Niger, where it got its name from, and the Benue, the main tributary of the Niger. The country's highest point is Chappal Waddi (or Gangirwal) with 2,419 m (7,936 ft.), located in the Adamawa mountains in the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Taraba State, on the border with Cameroon. The Federal Republic of Nigeria (its official name) has a population of of 177.5 million people (UN est. 2014) making it Africa's most populous country.

Capital city is Abuja located in the center of the nation, while Lagos is the primary port, economic hub and the largest city. Spoken languages are English (official), Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, and others. Capital City: Abuja (pop. 1 million). Other Cities: Lagos (21 million), Kano (2.5 - 3 million), Ibadan (3.2 million), Abuja (1 million), Port Harcourt (1.4 million), Benin City (1.2 million), Kaduna (800,000) Government: Type: An elected civilian government took office on 29 May 1999, following 15 years of military rule. Independence: 1 October 1960. Nigeria is divided into 36 administrative divisions ( states ) and one federal capital territory. Geography: Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon. Area : 924 000 sq. km. (356 700 sq.

mi.) Terrain: Ranges from southern coastal swamps to tropical forests, open woodlands, grasslands, and semidesert in the far north. The highest regions are the Jos Plateau 1,200-2,000 meters above sea level and the mountains along the border with Cameroon. Climate: Temperatures 22-36°C, annual rainfall ranges from 381 cm. along the coast to 64 cm. or less in the far north. People: Population : 183.5 million (UN estimate 2015) Ethnic groups (374 pure ethnic stocks): Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba are the largest. Religions: Muslim, Christian, indigenous African. Languages : English (official), Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, others. Literacy: 39%-51%. Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc.

Agriculture products: Cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish. Industries: Crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel.

Exports - commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber Exports partners: US 16.8%, India 11.5%, Netherlands 8.6%, Spain 7.8%, Brazil 7.6%, UK 5.1%, Germany 4.9%, Japan 4.1%, France 4.1% (2012) Imports - commodities: machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals Imports partners: China 18.3%, US 10.1%, India 5.5% (2012) Currency: Naira (NGN) Background: British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and today Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Most of the next 40 years Nigeria was ruled by two military juntas (1966–79 and 1983–98). Only in 1999 a new constitution was adopted, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed.

The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience long-standing ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history and the elections of 2011 were generally regarded as credible. In January 2014, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term. Rediscover Nigeria - the official tourism site of Nigeria with information on Festivals, People and Wild-Life Parks. World Heritage Sites in Nigeria Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove The dense forest of the Osun Sacred Grove, on the outskirts of the city of Osogbo, in Yorubaland is one of the last remnants of primary high forest in southern Nigeria.

The landscape of the grove and its meandering river is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Oshun, the goddess of fertility. Sukur Cultural Landscape The Sukur Cultural Landscape, with the Palace of the Hidi (Chief) on a hill dominating the villages below, the terraced fields and their sacred symbols, and the extensive remains of a former flourishing iron industry. According to this site, ( Sukur.info ) the region in the Mandara mountains of northeast Nigeria was assaulted by Boko Haram extremists in 2014. Abuja Tourism (Capital City): Nigeria, West Africa Abuja Tourism Nigeria Capital City, About Abuja Tourism and Travel (Nigeria, NG, West Africa) Abuja is considered to be one of the wealthiest cities in Nigeria. The Nigerian capital city also has a reputation for being hospitable and friendly, all of which make it a great place to spend a little time during your stay in Nigeria. The city of Abuja officially became Nigeria's capital in December 1991, although the move from Lagos to Abuja was planned as far back as 1976.

As a purpose-built city and administrative seat of Nigerian government, planners allowed for plenty of room for development. Sadly, however, the vision of the new city has not entirely been matched in reality, with slum areas rising up among Abuja's new modern buildings. Tourism and General Information Abuja may be the capital city of Nigeria, but it's still relatively small in comparison with other cities, such as Lagos. Abuja's modest population of 800,000 and compact size certainly make it easy to get around when sightseeing. The fact that Abuja is a planned city also helps. Further phases of development are planned for the future. Abuja has five districts within the city boundaries. Included in these is the Central District, which is situated between Aso Rock and the southern ring road. Garki, in the south-west of Abuja centre, is seen as the main business area of the city and contains the Garki Shopping Centre, as well as various banks and offices. Wuse, to the north-west of the city, is where you will find the Sheraton Hotel and the main market.

Maitama, in the north, is an exclusive area that is popular with the city's wealthiest inhabitants, along with many of the European embassies. Finally, Asokoro, in the east of the city, is a sought-after place to stay and is home to many of the city's politicians. The city centre is surrounded by the Greater Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, which includes five suburban districts. Abuja is fortunate in having plenty of natural attractions within easy reach, as well as cultural and tourist destinations, so there's lots to interest everyone. In the city itself, modern buildings abound, including the National Mosque and the headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Children and adults alike will be well-entertained at the Abuja National Children's Park and Zoo , while nearby attractions include Zuma Rock, the Gurara Falls and the Usama Dam.

Why “Africa” is Lost in the “Abuja Treaty” Translation Home » News » Africa » Why “Africa” is Lost in the “Abuja Treaty” Translation Why “Africa” is Lost in the “Abuja Treaty” Translation “The Accidental Ecowas & AU Citizen”: Why “Africa” is Lost in the “Abuja Treaty” Translation By E.K.Bensah Jr There’s a conspicuously delicious irony centred around Nigeria in African integration history: it’s to do with the fact that despite that country’s “gradualist” pretensions to African unity, it’s capital city is an eponymous representation to what is perhaps the most ambitious project to unite Africa–the Abuja Treaty. Signed in May 1991, it has been in operation since June 1994. But many Africans wouldn’t know it, for despite efforts by the AU to operationalise it, it is perhaps the best-kept open secret in Africa–as perhaps are the regional economic communities(RECs)! Abuja Treaty vs AEC and RECs The Treaty establishing the African Economic Community(AEC) was signed in Abuja, Nigeria in 1991. The AEC offers a framework for continental integration.

The RECS are mere building blocs towards the full realisation of the AEC. As regards the AEC, it has set no less than SIX stages to be fully operational. Starting from 1994, it has allowed 34 years for FULL political and economic integration. That makes 2018/2019 an important year. So, if we’re lucky, by 2020, the African Economic Community should be fully operational, with the eight AU-recognised RECs(AU-RECs) possibly subsumed under regions of North, Central, East, South and West African Economic Communities. I believe the reality to be very different by 2020. As RECs gain prestige in their comparative advantages of peace/conflict management; infrastructure, etc, they are wont to maintain themselves as legal personalities in their own right, and not necessarily want to subsume their staff and competencies under one sub-regional economic community!

If what Ghanaian lawyer and academic Dr.Richard Frimpong Oppong says is anything to go by in his insightful March 2010 piece “ The African Union, the African Economic Community and Africa’s Regional Economic Communities “, given that the African Economic Community does not have a legal personality –that is to say that it has rights, protections, privileges, responsibilities, and liabilities under law, just as natural persons (humans) do–it already makes the framework upon which the African Union operates rather shaky and tenuous. This is because while there is a protocol establishing the relationship between the AEC and RECs, “to what extent are the RECs bound by decisions of the AEC? Since the RECs, which have their own legal personality, are not parties to the AEC Treaty, what is the legal basis for assuming that they will merge and form the African Economic Community?”[italics are that of Dr.Oppong in his piece on p.94] In my opinion, this is the crux of his piece–and a very important one at that too. Even more important is “rationalising”, if you will, the relationship between the AEC and RECs as they progress and advance in their development.

This other important point ought not to be lost on as we cogitate over the future of African integration and where the AU is going. In my view, Dr.Oppong has opened up a whole new can of worms around African integration, and one which, in the light of the challenges the AU has been going through this year with Libya, merits serious consideration. Pax Nigeriana The specific case of Africa being “lost in the Abuja Treaty translation” is two-fold: one is historical; and the other has to do with the kind of vilification Nigeria goes through every now and then over its governance. History shows us that Nigeria’s vision of continental union was not always as progressive as it has been made out to be. Long before the then-OAU was established in May 1963, Nigeria was all too happy being part of the so-called 24-member “Monrovia” group, which were more conservative and gradualist about how Africa should be united.

Comprising Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon—among many other countries—they were opposed to the “big-bang” integration advocated by the more radical members of the six-member Casablanca group, which included Ghana; Guinea; Mali; Egypt and Morocco. It is ironic therefore that both the abortive Lagos Plan of Action and the Abuja Treaty would all be done in the most populous Black African country. Secondly, despite the fact that corruption and/or chaos have been by-words of that country, we cannot escape the fact that, like Brussels being synonymous with the European Union institutions, Abuja is also increasingly a by-word for West Africa’s regional grouping of ECOWAS and its institutions. As we now know, it is even more: Abuja has not just played host to a number of important meetings on Africa, its governance, and its integration throughout the years, but also has an important document outlining continental integration named after the capital city.

Additionally, even if it was the Treaty of Lagos that set up ECOWAS in 1975, it is now in Abuja that many diplomatic missions worldwide flock to get closer to what has been termed in some quarters as Africa’s most dynamic regional economic community this side of the Sahara. Add the fact that Abuja is set to host the third pillar of the Pan-African financial institution—the African Central Bank—and we have for ourselves an “African Brussels” to watch out for. The extent to which we—as African Union community citizens—can accept the double-edged sword of Nigeria both as a great country that is flawed and tainted by corruption, but one that will inevitably play critical roles in the facilitation of continental union will largely depend on how truly committed we all are to seeing an Africa predicated on strong, sustainable, effective and credible institutions that are funded by Africans – for the benefit of the continent. In 2009, in his capacity as a “Do More Talk Less Ambassador” of the 42nd Generation—an NGO that promotes and discusses Pan-Africanism–Emmanuel gave a series of lectures on the role of ECOWAS and the AU in facilitating a Pan-African identity.

Emmanuel owns “Critiquing Regionalism” ( ). Established in 2004 as an initiative to respond to the dearth of knowledge on global regional integration initiatives worldwide, this non-profit blog features regional integration initiatives on MERCOSUR/EU/Africa/Asia and many others. You can reach him on ekbensah@ekbensah.net / Mobile: 0268.687.653. Related Posts Nigeria Nigeria COUNTRY OVERVIEW LOCATION AND SIZE. Nigeria is located in Western Africa, and borders the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin on the west and Cameroon on the east. It has a compact area of 923,768 square kilometers (356,376 square miles). The country's land mass extends from the Gulf of Guinea in the south to the Sahel (the shore of the Sahara Desert) in the north. Comparatively, Nigeria is slightly more than twice the size of California, or the size of California, Nevada, and Arizona combined. Abuja, the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, replaced the former capital city, Lagos, in December 1991, because of its more central location, among other reasons.

Lagos remains Nigeria's commercial capital. Other major Nigerian cities include Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Maid-uquri, Jos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Calabar, and Aba. POPULATION. Accurate population counts for Nigeria are difficult to obtain because such figures are tied directly to representation in the National Assembly and distribution of national wealth; therefore, they are often skewed by groups vying for political or economic advantage. In the absence of an accurate census, it is impossible to determine how many people live in Nigeria beyond rough estimates. The population of Africa's largest country was estimated at 123,337,822 in 2000. This figure represents an increase of 39.36 percent over the 1991 population census figure of 88.5 million, which was hotly debated and widely believed to have been an undercount. In the year 2000, the birth rate was estimated at 40.12 per 1,000, while the death rate was estimated at 13.72 per 1,000.

With a projected annual population growth rate of 2.67 percent between 2000 and 2015, Nigeria's population is expected to increase to 156,269,020 in the year 2015. Excess mortality due to AIDS, lower life expectancy, and higher infant mortality and death rates might reduce this projected figure. The density of population in Nigeria is among the highest in Africa. It ranges from 100 persons per square kilometer in the northeastern and west-central regions to more than 500 persons per square kilometer in the south and northwestern regions. The population is largely young. According to a 2000 estimate of the age structure, the largest segment of the population (53 percent) comprised individuals who are between 15 and 64 years old. This percentage included 33,475,794 males and 32,337,193 females. The second largest segment (44 percent) were between 0 and 14 years old and included 27,181,020 males and 26,872,317 females.

The smallest segment (3 percent) were individuals 65 years and older, including 1,729,149 males and 1,722,349 females. The estimated sex ratio of the total population in 2000 was 1.02 males to 1 female while life expectancy at birth for the total population was 51.56 years: 51.58 years for males, and 51.55 years for females. The government hopes that the expansion of education, especially among women, and the availability of birth control information, including family planning, will help to control the population growth. Nigeria has received assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop and implement its programs on family planning and child survival. In 1992, Nigeria added an HIV/AIDS prevention and control program to its existing health activities. Nigeria is a plural or multinational state, with 250 ethnic or nationality groups.

The most populous and politically influential of the nationality groups include the Hausa-Fulani (29 percent) in the north, the Yoruba (21 percent) in the southwest, the Igbo (18 percent) in the southeast, and the Ijaw (10 percent) in the Niger Delta. This characteristic ethnic composition gives Nigeria a rich diversity in customs, languages, religious and cultural traditions. It also compounds Nigeria's political and economic problems. Although the people are primarily rural dwellers, Nigeria, like other post-colonial African countries, has been urbanizing rapidly. In the year 2000, nearly 25 percent of the Nigerian population were urban dwellers. At least 24 cities have populations of more than 100,000. Lagos, the largest city, had a population of 9.8 million in 1995, 12.5 million in 2000, and is projected to have a population of 25 million in 2015. INLAND WATERWAYS.

Inland waterways totaling 8,575 kilometers, (5,329 miles) and consisting of Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks, provide Nigeria's third internal transportation network. Water transportation of goods and services using boats and canoes is essential and common in riverine areas of Nigeria where road construction is difficult. In the 1980s the government invested funds in building river ports, hoping that increased passenger traffic on the nation's inland waterways would relieve the strained highway system. A major problem involves the fluctuations in the water level during the dry season, which hinder the movement of canoes. PORTS. Ports provide facilities for exports and imports. The port in Lagos handles the majority of cargo flowing in and out of the country by ship; other important ports include Port Harcourt, Calabar, and the delta port complex of Warri, Sapele, Koko, and Alesa Eleme. In addition to these port complexes, 2 specialized tanker terminals at Bonny, near Port Harcourt, and Burutu, near Warri, handle crude oil exports. AIR TRAVEL.

Nigeria has 72 (1998 estimate) airports, 36 of which have paved runways. Three major international airports—Murtala Muhammad International at Lagos, Aminu Kano International at Kano, and another at Port Harcourt—offer regularly scheduled international flights. Nigeria Airport Authority manages the airports. Nigeria Airways provides domestic service between the international airports and other Nigerian cities. On 26 August 2000, Nigeria and the United States signed an "Open Skies Agreement" to expand and enhance the overall aviation partnership between the 2 countries. Among others, the agreement provides for a direct flight between Lagos and John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. It is hoped that the direct flight will boost Nigeria's tourism sector and develop Lagos as a gateway to Africa. ELECTRICAL POWER. Electrical power for industrial and household purposes is supplied by Nigeria's National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). The state-owned corporation, nicknamed "Never Expect Power Always" by Nigerians, is very unreliable, with daily shortages and blackouts.

In 1998 its production of 14.75 billion kilowatts from fossil fuel (61.69 percent) and hydropower (38.31 percent) was highly inadequate to meet the nation's industrial and household needs. As a consequence, businesses and manufacturers operate well below capacity, while thousands of Nigerians in urban centers and rural areas buy their own power generators. TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Telecommunications services provide high quality links internally and to the rest of the world. The government is pursuing an ambitious telecommunications expansion program. It plans to increase Nigeria's mobile and wire lines from year 2000 numbers of 700,000 to over 4 million functional telephone lines by 2002. Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) was the nation's sole carrier until 1993 when 8 private firms were approved to be connected to its switching system so as to provide services to various Nigerian zones. Virtually all Nigerian localities receive broadcasts from one of 65 AM radio stations, and more than a dozen cities from FM radio stations. Shortwave broadcasts from overseas and 6 local transmitters are received throughout the country.

Television services are available to most urban areas as well as rural areas with rural electrification. According to World Development Indicators (2000), 223 per 1,000 Nigerians owned radios (1997), while 66 per 1,000 owned television sets (1998). While there were 5 Internet service providers, less than 20 percent of the Nigerian urban population used the Internet in 1999. INDUSTRY MINING. The oil industry dominates Nigeria's mineral development, making petroleum the most important sector of the Nigerian economy. Nigeria produces 2.3 million barrels of crude oil per day (2000). It is Africa's largest oil producer, contributing 3.0 percent to the global production, and is the world's sixth largest oil exporter. Its proven reserves are estimated at 20 billion barrels, enough to last 40 years at the current rate of production. Continuing exploration is expected to raise the total to more than 25 billion. Nigeria is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) cooperates with foreign oil companies such as Shell, Mobil, Elf, Agip, Chevron, and BP in its oil industry. The parastatal was recently restructured as part of a general policy to commercialize state concerns and encourage private-sector participation in them. Crude oil (11 percent of production) is refined in Nigeria in 4 refineries which seldom meet the country's demands. Hence, there is constant shortage of fuel. Crude oil is also the nation's largest export to such countries as the United States and Japan. Petroleum products accounted for two-thirds of Nigeria's energy consumption in the 1990s. Domestic consumption of crude oil was 250,000 barrels per day. During the process of oil exploration, vast reserves of natural gas—estimated at 100 billion standard cubic feet—were discovered. They are the largest reserves found so far in Africa.

In 1988, Nigeria produced 21.2 billion cubic meters per day with 2.9 billion cubic meters used by National Electric Power Authority and other domestic customers, 2.6 billion cubic meters used by foreign oil companies, and 15.7 billion cubic meters wasted through flaring. In 2000 Nigeria began to export Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), an increasingly important sector which is expected at some point to surpass oil as the nation's major source of revenue. Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd., a subsidiary of the NNPC, had signed agreements in 1992 with 4 countries—United States, France, Italy, and Spain—for supplies of LNG. Nigeria's emphasis on the oil industry resulted in the neglect of other sectors of the mining industry. Recently, however, interest has rekindled in solid minerals such as coal, tin, iron, columbine, gold, uranium, tantalum, marble, and phosphates. Many other commercially-viable solid minerals have yet to be exploited. All solid minerals are owned by the federal government.

Prospecting licenses, mining leases, quarrying licenses, and leases are granted by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, established early in 1995 to boost non-oil exports. The National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria operates a fertilizer complex at Onne (Rivers State). Coal production had declined as industries and trains shifted to the use of oil, gasoline, and diesel, but in 1991 2 joint ventures began operations for its mining and export. A total of 60,000 tons were exported to England in 1991. The solid minerals are attracting foreign interest for potential exploitation. In addition to the development of the solid minerals noted, Nigeria engages in processing industries for such products as palm oil, peanuts, rubber, wood, hides, and skins. MANUFACTURING. The manufacturing sector in the Nigerian economy is dominated by import substitution —light industries designed to produce goods that previously had been imported.

The Nigerian Enterprises Promotion decrees (1972, 1977, and 1981) shifted the manufacturing sector from foreign majority ownership in the 1960s to indigenous (local) majority ownership in the mid-to-late 1970s by limiting foreign ownership shares in various industries. As a result, a few civil servants, military leaders, business people, and professionals became considerably wealthy through the purchase of the relinquished foreign-owned shares. The third development plan (1975 to 1980) envisaged a rapid phase of industrialization, emphasizing heavy industries such as iron, steel, and petrochemicals, as well as such consumer durables as automobiles. Automobile assembly plants were established in 1978 by Leyland, Peaugeot, Volkswagen, Fiat, and Daimler-Benz. Major industrial projects during the third development plan included 3 new oil refineries, 2 pulp and paper mills, an iron and steel complex, 2 liquefied natural gas plants, 3 sugar refineries, and 3 new cement factories. Their productivity was low. The iron and steel complex remained incomplete.

The fourth development plan (1981 to 1985) placed high priority on the manufacturing sector in order to promote rapid development and transformation of the economy. The extant manufacturing industries concentrated on consumer goods : food products, mineral distillation and beer brewing, textiles, cement, building materials, glass, footwear, furniture, chemical products, ceramics, and small appliances. They produced a range of goods but did not substantially increase employment or industrial growth. Manufacturing industries are among the Obasanjo administration's priority areas of industrial investment. The administration favors industries which can rapidly be supported by locally-produced raw materials. The government also hopes to support food-production programs through local manufacture of chemicals, equipment, and light commercial vehicles. It will also focus on industries with multiplier effect such as flat-sheet mills and machine tools industry, including foundries and engineering industries for spare-parts production. The administration invites local and foreign investors in the priority areas. The manufacturing sector suffers from a number of constraints including low demand for locally-made goods such as textiles and footwear, and the poor state of social and economic infrastructure typified by power and water shortages.

However, Nigeria's manufacturing capacity utilization rose from 34 percent in 1998 to 36 percent in 1999. SERVICES TOURISM. Tourism in Nigeria is highly undeveloped, considering the West African nation's available tourist resources: land, climate, vegetation, people and their festivals, abundant art treasures, national monuments, ports, traditional sports, and music. Recognizing the potential revenue the nation could generate from tourism, the government decided in 1991 to develop and promote tourism into an economically viable industry. The thrust of its policy was to "make Nigeria a prominent tourism destination in Africa, generate foreign exchange, encourage even development, promote tourism-based rural enterprises, and generate employment." An institutional framework was put in place, namely the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, to pursue the objectives and maintain links with the state governments on funding and monitoring of a nation-wide tourism infrastructure. The government provided incentives to encourage domestic and foreign investors to participate in the venture. For example, the sector was accorded preferred-sector status, qualifying it for tax holidays and import-duty exemption on tourism-related equipment.

Upon the inauguration of the Third Republic, President Obasanjo accorded the industry an additional boost by creating a separate Ministry of Tourism and Culture with Chief Ojo Madueke as its minister. The boost notwithstanding, many impediments stand in the way of a tourist industry in Nigeria. Warnings issued by foreign governments on the dangers of travel to Nigeria scare tourists. Violent crime by individuals in police and military uniforms, as well as by ordinary criminals, is an acute and constant problem. Frequently, harassment and shakedowns of foreigners and Nigerians by uniformed personnel and others occur throughout the federation. Fake business and other advance-fee scams target foreigners worldwide and pose dangers of financial loss and potential physical harm. Other barriers to a successful tourist industry include inconsistent regulations, widespread corruption and crime, crumbling roads and bridges, erratic telephone service, frequent shortages of fuel, electricity and water, and social unrest in some parts of the country. FINANCIAL SERVICES. Regular banking services in Nigeria began in 1892 when the country's first bank was established.

By 1952 there were 3 foreign-owned banks (the Bank of British West Africa, Barclays Bank, and the British and French Bank) and 2 indigenous banks (the National Bank of Nigeria and the African Continental Bank). A central bank, demanded by members of the Nigerian Federal House of Assembly in 1952 to help promote economic development, was established and operational on 1 July 1959. Similar to central banks in Western Europe and North America, the Central Bank of Nigeria establishes the Nigerian currency, controls and regulates the banking system, serves as banker to other banks in Nigeria, and carries out the government's economic policy in the monetary field. Despite the tendency of Nigerians to prefer cash to checks for business and debt settlements, the banking system has expanded to include 90 banks in 2000 in 3 categories: commercial, merchant, and industrial or development banks. In addition to these categories, there are many mortgage and community banks, insurance companies, pension funds, and finance and leasing companies active in Nigeria. A drastic decline in the number of financial houses, commercial banks, and mortgage and community banks began in 1995 because of distress in the financial sector. RETAIL.

Nigeria has one of the best-developed and most extensive retail industrial sectors in sub-Saharan Africa. This is due to its large population located in many large commercial centers, such as Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Port Harcourt, Aba, and Onitsha, in addition to hundreds of smaller towns with more than 200,000 inhabitants. There are also hundreds of trading corporations, financial institutions, and a great variety of small business enterprises, many in the informal sector, along with thousands of large market (and roadside stands) in urban as well as rural areas. The commercial centers house a variety of retail stores, restaurants, and secular and Christian bookshops that cater to the commercial and household needs of traders and residents. Nigerians now dominate the wholesale and retail trade which in colonial days had been virtually controlled by foreign companies from metropolitan Western Europe, Lebanon, Syria, and India. Nigerian women are playing an increasing role in the retail and distribution sector. DEPENDENCIES Abuja, capital city of Nigeria All... Abuja, capital city of Nigeria Abuja is quickly becoming one of Africa's most exuberant cities.

The purpose-built capital is in the heart of the Nigeria, a neutral location amid a country with a history of religious and ethnic clashes. Wide, leafy roads divided the city into four distinct districts, marked by sprawling apartment buildings, government institutions and high office towers. A relatively new capital, the city is still being built, providing an exciting and always-changing environment for travelers. Aso Rock is a dominant feature of the Abuja landscape, and the ancient 400-meter tall monolith is the city's biggest tourist draw. Caused by water erosion, the monolith looms behind some of the capital's most attractive government buildings. The green-domed National Assembly Building, home to the Senate and House of Representatives, sits near the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the country's highest court. The trifecta at Aso Rock is completed with the Nigerian Presidential Complex, known simply as “the villa” by locals. Jabi Lake is already a popular destination for visitors and locals, even though its development as a resort is not yet complete. The man-made lake is surrounded by verdant vegetation and is a lovely place to catch a cool breeze while escaping some of the city's chaos.

Visitors can also seek shade and respite at Millennium Park, the city's largest public green space. In 2003, the space was inaugurated by the United Kingdom's Queen Elizabeth II. Located in the Maitama district, the park is halved by a river. One side is dedicated to untouched nature, and a terrace system is planted with some of Nigeria's natural vegetation representing the rainforest, savanna, mountains, deciduous forest and brushwood. Extensive greenhouses in the park are filled with tropical birds and butterflies from around the country. The other half of Millennium Park is dedicated to environmental science. The flora in this half grow in very traditional and rigid layouts based on Italian gardens, and Roman white travertine paves the walking paths. A number of refreshing fountains cool visitors on even the hottest days, and the Cotton Tree, an enormous tree considered holy by locals, provides shade. Designed by Italian architect Manfredi Nicoletti, the park is visited by thousands of people each day. Abuja is also home to the National Mosque, built in 1984 and open to the public with the exception of congregational prayer times.

The gold-domed mosque features four towering minarets, a lush courtyard and an extensive library of Islamic reading materials. One of the best times to visit Abuja is during November, when the capital hosts its annual carnival. The festival is an opportunity for local groups, including women and youth, to exercise their creativity through music, theater and dance performances. Many countries participate in the festivities, bringing an international feel to the event. Parties erupt in the streets, parades entertain throughout the city, boats race down the river, masquerade balls last until the wee hours and after-parties keep going for days. The city is constantly under construction, and many developments are planned for Abuja's future. In the works are Nigeria's tallest building, the Millennium Tower, and Heritage City Park, the continent's first theme park. The park will feature architectural models of ancient African buildings that house interactive rides, exhibit spaces, stunt shows and animatronics that highlight the continent's history, culture and arts. Abuja Geographical Location Abuja is located in the center of Nigeria to the south of Aso Rock. Abuja is one of the wealthiest cities in Africa and has a population of 777,000 people.

Abuja Language English is the official language of Nigeria but over 500 indiginous languages are spoken throughout the country. The most common languages spoken in Nigeria, as English is not widely spoken in urban areas or among poorer groups, are Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Fulani. Abuja Predominant Religion 40% Christian 10% Indigenous Beliefs Facts about Nigeria and African art from Nigeria. Federal Republic of Nigeria History Formerly known as the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, modern day Nigeria gained independence from Britain on 1 October 1960. The period subsequent to independence has been turbulent, and it was only in 1999 that military rule gave way to civilian government. There are still many ethnic and religious conflicts going on in this oil rich state. Though it is thought that Nigeria still has a large and relatively unexplored archeological past, the earliest human fossil skeleton dates back about 10,000 years. It is also site to some of the oldest metalwork finds in west Africa, dating back to the fourth century B.C. The earliest identified Nigerian culture is that of the Nok people, especially famous for their terra-cotta sculpture.

Some of these pieces being the most prized African art treasures. Traditional Nigerian African art is one of the most prolific in this idiom, of particular note is the art of the Ife and Benin civilizations, the Yoruba and the Igbo. The capital city is Abuja, having been moved from Lagos in 1991. The Nigerian legal system is based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law in the 12 northern states, and traditional law. English is the official language, and their currency is the naira. Geography Nigeria is a west African country bordering Cameroon to the east, Benin to the west, Niger to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The total surface area is 356,668 square miles. Arable land consists of 33% of the surface area and the climate is tropical in the south and arid to the north. Natural resources include oil (one of the world's largest producers and exporters, on a similar scale to Kuwait), natural gas, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead and zinc.

Their main agricultural products are cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams, rubber, timber and livestock. People Nigeria is the most populous African country with a total population of 132 million people. There are more than 250 ethnic groups, the most important 29% Hausa and Fulani, 21% Yoruba, 18% Igbo (Ibo), 10% Ijaw, 4% Kanuri, 3,5% Ibibio and 2,5% Tiv. The labor force is about 57 million people, and it is estimated that 60% of the population live below the poverty line. In 2003 it was estimated that 5,4% of the adult population are infected with HIV/AIDS. United States Africa Command United States Africa Command Items Tagged with "U.S.

Embassy Abuja" 3 results (20 per page) Filter Video | Pandemic and Disaster Response Plans Unveiled in Nigeria January 9, 2014 Article | Pandemic and Disaster Tabletop Exercise in Nigeria Builds Roadmap for Future Strategic Partnerships November 25, 2013 After a week of working together, collaborating in cells and chartering how Nigeria’s Pandemic Disaster Response plan could be used in a real world emergency, the participants of the tabletop exercise celebrated a successful event in a closing Article | Pandemic and Natural Disaster Response Plans Unveiled in Nigeria November 19, 2013 Nigeria has reached a milestone in providing assistance to and protecting their citizens during pandemic and natural emergencies. Working with peers and experts from the U.S. Africa Command and other international partners, Nigerian officials came

Question: Abuja is the capitalcity of which West African republic?
Answer: NIGERIA